Sure, the Star-Spangled Banner is a severely flawed piece of music that should probably be replaced by something with lyrics that don't refer to slaves (that's another column for another day), but athletes who silently protest during the song by taking a knee, raising a fist, or whatever, are not disrespecting it.

It's also not about the police.

Yes, the protests were initially inspired by too many acts of violence (sometimes deadly) perpetrated by rogue police against African-American boys and men throughout the nation. But they were never about all police. Indeed, many protestors are related to police officers, friends with police officers or at least acquainted with police officers in their team's city or their hometown. Bad-apple police and the unjust policies that protect them are the targets of the protests. The good apples want them gone, too.

It's not about America or patriotism, either.

Protesting athletes are proud Americans--Americans who want to see this nation do better, who demand she does better in lifting and protecting black citizens from brutality and injustice.

And protests are at the very root of patriotism, particularly for a nation whose founders went to war for independence from what they believed was an unjust tyranny.

It's not even about the National Football League.

Yep, it just so happens that the catalyst, the sacrificial lamb who put his livelihood on the line to shine a light on injustices against our black and brown neighbors was a blown-out-afro-wearing quarterback who once guided his team to the Super Bowl.

Colin Kaepernick inspired many of his peers to follow suit, many who emerged from neighborhoods where relations with local police are at a dangerously distrusting low, some who themselves experienced unjust, life-fearing treatment at the hands of police.

Now, his cause is much bigger a bunch of guys knocking heads in the fall, and NFL "owners" (quotes intended) aren't exactly happy about it--even more so since their collision conspiracy to not sign him not only didn't make him go away but perhaps even elevated his status, particularly among African-American NFL fans.

Though the protests were never about any of those things, the "owners" last week cow-towed to those who want to make it about all of the above--no matter what the protesters, or those who support them, say.

They voted (at least informally, and squeamishly, by a show of hands) to fine teams if players kneeled, fisted, burped or otherwise protested during the national anthem next season. Players don't have to be on the field during the anthem, "owners" said. But if they are, they damn well better stand up straight and honor the anthem.

It is their right to do so; they are, after all, "owners".

But let's be real.

What those "owners" did was not about patriotism. Or law enforcement. Or our servicemen and servicewomen.

It was about money--about stifling the whining among those whom they clearly believe are their most important fans, those incensed by the site of young African-American men kneeling to call attention to the repeated injustices perpetrated against them and their brethren.

And, oh yeah, all while burying under turf that NFL teams have received millions of tax-payer dollars to promote "patriotism."

Between 2011 and 2014, 14 teams were paid $5.4 million by the Defense Department for "patriotic salutes"--like fly-overs and field-sized displays of the flag during the anthem. That was disclosed in a 2105 joint oversight report by Arizona Sens. Jeff Flake (r) and John McCain (r). "[Displays] of patriotism [were] included within the $6.8 million that [DOD] spent on sports marketing contracts since the fiscal year 2012."

It's also about power--about stating emphatically that NFL "owners" and players are not partners in the $13 billion endeavor that is the nation's most popular (at least for now) sport and that players should stay in your place.

It's about cowardice--about the "owners" not even engaging with players or their union leadership to find a resolution that would be amenable to all parties. DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, took to Twitter to express his displeasure over the ruling.

The sad irony of this rule is that anyone who wants to express their patriotism is subject to the whim of a person who calls himself an "Owner."

I know that not all of the NFL CEO's are for this and I know that true American patriots are not cheering today.

Now what? I really want to watch NFL games. I grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan and really want to see how Dak Prescott grows in his third season. I want to watch Carolina Panthers Cam Newton and fellow Stanford Cardinal alum Christian McCaffery.

I want to see Baker Mayfield (long-time readers know I grew up in Oklahoma) in Cleveland, Richard Sherman (yet another Cardinal) in San Francisco and even 68-year-old Tom Brady in Boston.

But I can't. Not while NFL "owners" have made it clear they do not value me or anyone who believes the "owners" could have done better, that they could have worked with the players to discern a solution that was more productive than punitive.

Until then, the song made sporadic appearances at sports events, including during the 1919 World Series featuring the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. The opening game, USA Today reported, occurred 17 months after the U.S. had entered World War I, and after more than 100,000 American soldiers had died. During the seventh-inning stretch, a band began spontaneously playing the song (which was still not yet the nation's official anthem) and the crowd began to sing.

Now, of course, sports teams are the only entities still pumping out the anthem before each and every game.

For the sanity or sports fans everywhere--including me--it's time to stop.

Oh, I'm still cool with the fly-overs--they never really get old. And please keep honoring our military men and women, even if (ahem, NFL "owners") you are being paid millions to do so.

But drop the anthem. It has become too polarizing. Too extra.

Can't we just watch the games, cheer for our teams and high-five folks next to us--even if we disagree on criminal justice reform, immigration, health care, voting rights, whatever?

Instead, play a hype-highlight video before kickoff. Or simply play ball.

Then maybe we can re-direct our passions towards our favorite teams and eliminate the social injustices and inequities that still plague too many.